Shedding mechanism of circular looms



July 20, 1937. I c, E ET AL 2,087,320

SHEDDING' MECHANISM OF CIRCULAR LOOMS Filed June 22, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l y-20,1937. F. cqHALE Em 2 087 320 SHEDDING MECHANISM OF CIRCULAR LOOMS Patented July 20, 1937 TE? FFHQE SHEDDING MEiJHANISM OF GIRCULAR LOOMS Delaware Application June 22, 1935, Serial No. 27,834 In Great Britain July 10, 1934 11 Slaims.

This invention relates to circular looms, having as its principal object the provision of an improved shedding mechanism therefor.

The most advantageous construction of circular loom for weaving textile fabrics being one in which the warps proceed substantially cylindrical to the point at which they are woven into fabric so that the diameter of the fabric may be large in relation to the space occupied by the loom, the shedding movement of the warp threads out oftheir normal line from the supply to fabric must be in a radial or substantially radial direction. The necessity for imparting such movement to the warp threads leads to difficulty in constructing shedding mechanism for a circular loom, especially as most textile fabrics have the Warpthreads spaced very close together, which calls for the disposition in a relatively restricted space of a great number of controlling elements necessary to bring about shedding. The difficulty above-mentioned is further increased because these elements have to be reasonably accessible to the operative for the entering of a warp or the tying-in of broken ends.

The apparatus according tothe present invention provides in a simple manner for the radial movement of each warp thread and enables effective control to be obtained over all the warp threads even when these are present in very high density.

According tothe invention the warp threads are controlled by light flat metal healds mounted on their edges so as to project radially outwards from a support arranged round the loom within the warp circle. The healds are mounted in a plurality of banks in the one support, each heald being free to move over a distance somewhat in excess of that necessary to divide the warp threads into a shed through which the shuttle can pass. By reason of the outward projection. of the healds from their support the healds in any bank are immediately accessible from outside the loom for threading-up or replacement, and the thinness of the healds enables them to be pushed to one side and give greater accessibility to any particular heald or set of healds during threading-up.

Means are provided which tend to urge all the healds into a shedding movement in a radial direction and in connection with these means, means are provided for restraining healds in selected banks against such shedding movement so that the warp threads whose healds are free are in this way deflected to one side of the shuttle, While the threads whose healds are restrained remain undefiected. The shuttle then enters the space between the separated threads and completes the shed by pressing the threads apart.

The means for restraining the movement of any bank of healds: can be simply a stop suitably supported to lie opposite the healds before the latter come under the action of the means tending to urge them into movement. In order to bring aboutthe movement of the healds, the threads are engaged near to the healds on the side or the heald banks remote from the shut tles by shedding wheels projecting through the normal line of the warps so as to force the warp threads to one side of this line. All healds which are free to move partake of this movement, sliding easily in their support while those healds which encounter a stop are prevented from having the shedding movement.

In an alternative arrangement, all the healds are normally held against radial movement, means being provided in advance of each shuttle to free the healds in any selected bank or banks. Thus, the healds may be notched toengage a catch, cam means being employed to rock 2 selected healds out of engagement with the catch in readiness for their shedding movement.

The heald stops or releasing. cams are with advantage disposed at the side of the heald support opposite the side from which the healds project to control the warps, and the stops or cams: are preferably placed close to the support so that the length of the healds projecting from the support when they are in contact with the stops or cams is Very small. Any sideways thrust arising by reason of relative circular motion between the healds and the stops or cams is thus minimized and the light healds easily resist any tendency to bend and are still capable of sliding freely in their supports.

Any desired number of heald banks may be employed, the number depending to a large extent on the type of weave desired. Thus for example five-shaft or eight-shaft satin weaves require the use of five or eight banks of healds. Apart, however, from the multiplication of the number of banks necessary for certain weaves, the shedding mechanism is exceedingly simple in character, the healds themselves being very light in weight and readily move under the action of the shedding wheels without danger of straining the warp threads. The healds, in fact, have only to be sufiiciently rigid to avoid flexing under the very light forces to which they are subjected.

Some forms of shedding mechanism according to the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 of which illustrates in part crosssectional elevation shedding mechanism suitable for the weaving of a five-shaft satin incorporated in a circular loom employing rotating shuttles; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

I Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic part cross-sectional elevation showing the disposition of the mechanism of Fig. 1 with respect to the central shaft of the loom;

Fig. 4 is a part cross-sectional elevation of a modified form of shedding mechanism similar to that of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a detail of Figs. 4 and 5, while Fig. 7 shows diagrammatically in planview a modified detail of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2. With reference to Figs. 1 and 3, warp threads '7 unwinding from warp beams or other supply packages (not shown) proceed downwardly to the fabric 8 along the fell 9 of which weft is laid by a number of shuttles l0 (one shown). Immediately above the level of'the shuttle H) are mounted a pair of concentric cylindrical reedlike members I l, i 2, set in soft metal 13, such as lead, and supported by a spider I4 which is secured to the central shaft E5 of the loom.

The reed ll while being of less diameter than the reed l2 is provided with the same number of dents E6, the two reeds extending axially of the loom to a height sufficient to accommodate five banks of thin warp thread controlling healds ll. Each bank'of healds is supported by concentric rings l8 secured in the inner edges of the dents I6, and each heald ll is free to slide on its edges between corresponding dents l6 of the two reeds, while being guided radially by the dents. As shown in the drawings, each heald l1 projects outwardly from the reed I2 over a substantial distance and engages its corresponding warp thread or threads at a point removed from the reeds so as to be readily accessible for threading-up.

Situated above the level of the banks of healds l? and in advance of each shuttle I0 is a warp shedding wheel I9 mounted for free rotation on an arm 20 outstanding from a pillar 2i which is carried round the loom at the same speed as the shuttles E9. The arm 20 is adjusted on the pillar M in such a manner that the edge of the shedding wheel 59 projects beyond the normal line 22 of the warp threads l, and on being carried around the loom presses the warp threads in turn, and consequently the healds l! in connection therewith, towards the central shaft In order to prevent the inward movement, at any particular shuttle, of the healds ll of any bank controlling warp threads which are to be divided from the rest to form a shed for reception of the shuttle, a series of stops 23 are provided, each being adapted to hold the healds in a selected bank in their normal position against inward movement under the influence of the pressed warp threads I.

The stops 23 are in the form of short plates are clamped in spaced relation close to and oppo- 7 site the inner ends of the healds ll on a spindle 24 depending from an extremity of a spider 25 which is rotated about the central shaft l5 by a sleeve 26 at the same rate as the shuttles I0 and shedding wheels l9. One set of stops 23 is carried by the spider 25 slightly in advance of each shuttle l0, so that any desired stop can be set to project towards the ends of the corresponding bank of healds ll just before and while the healds are pressed inwardly by the warp threads I.

In Fig. 1 the third stop is shown in the operative position, the healds ll of the third bank being held against inward movement, thereby allowing of ashedding of the warp threads I into two sheets 22, 28. Fig. 2, (from which the reeds ll, i2 are omitted for clarity), shows clearly in plan the respective positions of the healds which are free to slide inwardly, viz., the first, second, fourth and fifth banks, and the healds of the third bank which are maintained in normal position by the third stop 23.

When in working position, the operative edge of each stop 23 is disposed very close to the dents l6 of the inner reed l I, so that the length of the healds ll projecting from the reed ll, when they are in contact with the stop, is very small. Any sideways thrust arising from the relative circular motion between the healds and the stops is thus minimized and the light healds easily resist any tendency to bend and are still capable of sliding freely on the rings l8 between dents it.

As will be observed from Fig. 1 the distance between the two sheetsv 22, 28 of warp threads is relatively narrow. The nose of the shuttle Ill, however, enters the narrow space and the shuttle itself pushes the two sheets 22, 28 apart to form a shed of the requisite width, as indicated at 29, 36. After the passage of the shuttle ill through the shed the tension in the warp threads 29, 30 returns them and their healds to their normal positions in readiness for further shedding. It will be noted that the healds H are long enough to remain in engagement with the dents l5 and supporting rings l8 even when pulled outwardly to the fullest extent by the warp threads of the sheet 2.9.

With the warp threads'in their normal position, via, in the line 22, there is a slight clearance between the irmer ends of the healds l1 and the operative edge of the adjacent stop 23. Therefore, when the healds are urged to move inwardly by the pressed warp threads, they can move only over the small distance between their inner ends and the stop. The stops 23 are formed with inclined portions 3! at their ends in order that any heald brought into engagement with a stop prematurely is directed smoothly by the inclined portion 3! to the outermost point of the stop without bending the heald.

If desired the stops 23 may be replaced by endless bands 32 (see Fig. '7) rotating about guide wheels 33, the guide wheels being mounted at the extremities of the spider 25 at the requisite height adjacent to the ends of the healds H in any bank. The guide wheels 33 may be power driven in the direction opposite to the direction of motion of the shuttles HI and at a speed equal to the shuttle speed so that the endless bands 32 in effect roll over the ends of the healds H which are to be held in their normal position against the pressure of the warp threads.

With this arrangement each band 32 is enabled to act as a stop against the inwardly projecting ends of the healds ll without exerting any sideways bending action on the healds since there is no relative motion between the healds and the part of the band engaging the healds. The guide wheels 33 may, on the other hand, be freely mounted to allow the bands 32 to roll over the ends of the healds ll merely by frictional contact therewith.

In the weaving of a five-shaft satin the warp threads 1 are divided amongst the five banks of healds il in the following manner:

The first of five warp threads is controlled by a heald of the first bank; of the four remaining threads of each group of five, the fourth thread is controlled by a heald of the second bank and the second, fifth, and third threads of the group are controlled respectively by the healds of the third, fourth and fifth banks. Thus, at the shuttle l6 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the second warp threads of the groups of five are being restrained against inward movement, while at the succeeding shuttle the fifth thread of the group will be restrained, and so on around the loom, the number of shuttles in operation being divisible by five.

In the modified form of shedding mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and the spider 25 (Fig. 3) carries at each of its extremities at a point in advance of each shuttle it a freely rotatable warp shedding wheel 35 extending beyond the normal line 22 of the warp threads. On rotation of the spider 2'5 all the warp threads are thus pressed outwardly beyond their normal line progressively round the loom.

Thewarp threads are controlled by banks of healds 36 which are guided by the dents B6 of two concentric reed-like members ii, 82 as described in connection with Fig. 1. While the banks of healds 36 are supported between the dents of the reed 52 by rings it as described in connection with Fig. 1, they are supported in the reed l l by rings 31 of square cross-section. These rings'3l engage recesses 38 formed in each heald 36 when the warp threads are in their normal line 22, and lock the healds against outward movement.

In order to free the .healds 36 of a selected bank so that the warp threads controlled thereby can be shedded outwardly under the influence of the shedding wheel 35 a cam plate 39 (one shown in full line in. Fig. 4) adapted to extend between the heald banks to a point adjacent to the dents it of the member H is provided in connection with each bank and is carried round the loom at the desired height relatively to the heald banks on a spindle 40 depending upon each of the extremities of the spider 25.

. The operative edge of each earn plate 39 is formed with an upstanding lip ill (see Figs. 4 and 6) which is chamfered at 42 to a point below the level of the lower edges of the healds beneath which it runs so that as the cam plate is carried between the heald banks, the healds of the corresponding bank are lifted smoothly by the chamfered portion 42 on to the lip 4! (as shown clearly in Fig. 6) and thereby freed from the locking action of the rings 31. As shown in Fig. 5 the leading edge of the cam plate 39 in connection with the shuttle it is set in advance of the point at whichthe shedding wheel 35 presses against the warp threads, viz. just in front of the nose of the shuttle l9. This setting ensures that the, healds of the selected bank are freed for outward movement as soonas the warp threads controlled thereby are pressed by the shedding wheel 35. In Fig. 4 the cam plate 39 in connection with the shuttle to is shown in operation, the healds 35 of the first bank having been rocked upwardly and freed for outward movement. I

On release of the healds of any particular bank the warp threads controlled thereby are pushed outwardly to the position shown at 43, leaving the threads controlled by the locked healds in the normal warp line 22. As explained with reference to Fig. 1 this initial shedding of the warp threads is completed by the shuttle itself on its entry into the shed, the shuttle pushing the warp threads at 43 and 22 sideways to the requisite width, indicated at M, 45. For this reason the recesses 38 in the healds 36 are long enough to allow the locked healds to recede radially under the pressure of their warp threads. After the passage of theshuttle through the shed the tension in the warp threads 44, 45 returns them and their healds to their normal positions in readiness for further shedding, the recesses 38 of the healds controlling the outwardly pushed threads re-engaging the square rings 31.

It will be understood that the spacing of the healds as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 is exaggerated for clarity of illustration. In practice the healds can be thin enough to be disposed very close together, e. g. thirty or more to the inch in a five bank arrangement for the weaving of five-shaft satin, the edgewise mounting of the healds en suring rigidity in operation. The thinness of the healds and the fact that they engage the warp threads at a point removed'from the reeds ll, 62 enables them to be pushed to'one side to give greater accessibility to any particular heald or set of healds during threading-up.

While the apparatus according to the invention has been described more particularly with reference to circular looms having rotating shuttles, it is to be understood that the mechanism may be applied to circular looms in which the shuttles are stationary while the warp threads rotate. In this latter case the shedding wheels and the supports for the stops or cam plates are maintained stationary with the shuttles while the healds rotate with the warp threads.

. What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

l. Shedding mechanism for circular loom, comprising a heald support disposed within the warp circle, a plurality of banks of individually movable flat warp thread controlling healds mounted on their edges within the support and projecting radially outwards therefrom so as to control the warp threads from the inside of the warp circle, means between. which and the healds there is relative circular motion about the loom axis for urging all the healds into a shedding movement in a radial direction progressively round the loom, and means cooperating with said urging means for restraining healds in selected banks against such shedding movement so that the warp threads whose healds are free are defiected progressively round the loom while the warp threads whose healds are restrained remain undefiected.

2. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom, comprising a heald support disposed within the warp circle, a plurality of banks of individually movable fiat warp thread controlling healds mounted on their edges within the support and projecting radially outwards therefrom so as to control the warp threads from the inside of the warp circle, means between which and the healds there is relative circular motion about the loom axis for urging all the healds into a. shedding movement in a radial direction progressively round the loom, and a stop mechanism cooperating with said urging means for restraining healds in selected'banks against such shedding move- .ment so that the warp threads whose healds are free are deflected progressively round the loom while the warp threads whose healds are restrained remain undeflected.

3. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom, comprising a heald support disposed within the warp circle, a plurality of banks of individually movable flat warp thread controlling healds mounted on their edges Within the support and projecting radially outwards therefrom so as to control the warp threads from the inside of the warp circle, means disposed outside of the warp circle and between which and the healds there is relative circular motion about the loom axis for urging all the healds into a shedding movement towards the loom axis progressively round the loom, and a stop mechanism disposed inside of the warp circle, said stop mechanism being adapted to cooperate with the urging means and to engage with healds in turn in selected banks close to the heald support in order to restrain said healds against inward shedding movement so that the warp threads whose healds are free are deflected while the warp threads Whose healds are restrained remain undeflected.

4. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom, comprising a heald support disposed within the warp circle, a plurality of banks of individually movable flat warp thread controlling healds mounted on their edges within the support and projecting radiallyoutwards therefrom so as to control the warp threads from the inside of the warp circle, means for locking all the healds against radial motion within the sup-port, means between which and the healds there is relative circular motion about the loom axis for urging all the healds into a shedding movement in a radial direction progressively round the loom, and means cooperating with said urging means for unlocking healds in selected banks progressively round the loom to free such healds for shedding movement so that the warp threads whose healds are unlocked are deflected while the warp threads whose healds remain locked remain undeflected.

5, Shedding mechanism for a circular loom, comprising a heald support disposed within the warp circle, a plurality of banks of flat movable warp thread controlling healds mounted on their edges within said support and projecting radially outwards therefrom so as to control the warp threads from inside the warp circle, locking means adapted to engage with recesses in said healds so as to look all the healds against radial motion within said support, means for urging all the healds into a shedding movement in a radial direction, and a cam co-operating with said urging means and adapted to lift healds in selected banks from contact with said locking means in order to free said healds for shedding movement so that the warp threads whose healds are unlocked are deflected while the warp threads whose healds remain locked remain undeflected.

6. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom, comprising a heald support disposed within the warp circle, a plurality of banks .of flat movable warp thread controlling healds mounted on their edges within said support and projecting radially outwards'therefrom so as to control the warp threads from inside the warp circle, locking means incorporated in said support and adapted to engage with recesses formed in the lower edges of said healds so as to lock all the healds against radial motion within said support, means for urging all the healds into a' shedding movement in a radial direction, and a cam co-operating with said urging means and adapted to lift healds in selected banks from contact with said locking means in order to free said healds for shedding movement so that the warp threads whose healds are unlocked are deflected while the warp threads whose heald-s remain locked remain undeflected.

7. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom, comprising a heald support disposed within the warp circle, a plurality of banks of flat warp thread controlling healds mounted on their edges within said support and projecting radially outwards therefrom so as to control the warp threads from inside the warp circle, a rotatable shedding wheel between which and said healds there is relative circular motion about the loom axis, said shedding wheel being adapted to press all the warp threads progressively radially of the loom and thereby to urge all the healds progressively into a shedding movement in a radial direction, and means co-operating with said urging means for restraining healds in selected banks against such shedding movement so that the warp threads whose healds are free are deflected progressively around the loom while the warp threads whose healds are restrained remain undeflected.

8. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom, comprising a heald support disposed within the warp circle, a plurality of banks of flat warp thread controlling healds mounted on their edges within said support and projecting radially outwards therefrom so as to control the warp threads from inside the warp circle, a rotatable shedding wheel between which and said healds there is relative circular motion about the loom axis, said shedding wheel being adapted to press all the warp threads progressively radially of the loom and thereby to urge all the healds progressively into a shedding movement in a radial direction, and a stop co-operating with said shedding wheel and adapted to engage with healds in selected banks so as to restrain said healds against the shedding movem nt so that the warp threads whose healds are free are deflected while the warp threads whose healds are restrained remain undeflected.

9. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom, comprising a heald support disposed within the warp circle, a plurality of banks of flat movable warp thread controlling healds mounted on their edges within said support and projecting radially outwards therefrom so as to control the warp threads from inside the warp circle, means for locking all the healds against radial motion within said support, a rotatable shedding wheel between which and said healds there is relative circular motion about the loom axis, said shedding wheel being adapted to press all the warp threads progressively radially of the loom and thereby to urge all the healds progressively into a shedding movement in a radial direction, and means co-operating with said shedding wheel for unlocking healds in selected banks to free said healds for shedding movement so that the warp threads whose healds are unlocked are deflected while the warp threads whose healds remain locked remain undeflected.

l0. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom, comprising a heald support disposed within the warp circle, a plurality of banks of flat movable warp thread controlling healds mounted on their edges within said support and projecting radially outwards therefrom so as to control the warp threads from inside the warp circle, locking means adapted to engage with recesses in said healds so as to look all the healds against radial motion within said support, a rotatable shedding wheel between which and said healds there is relative circular motion about the loom axis, said shedding wheel being adapted to press all the warp threads progressively radially of the loom and thereby to urge all the healds progressively into a shedding movement in a radial direction, and a cam co-operating with said shedding wheel and adapted to lift healds in selected banks from contact with said locking means in order to free said healds for shedding movement so that the warp threads whose healds are unlocked are deflected while the warp threads whose healds remain locked remain undefiected.

ll. Shedding mechanism for a circular loom, comprising a pair of concentric cylindrical reedlike members having the same number of dents,

means for mounting said pair of reed-like members inside the warp circle, a plurality of banks of radially disposed individually movable fiat warp thread controlling healds supported on their edges between the dents of said concentric reed-like members for protruding therefrom so as to control the warp threads from the inside of the warp circle, means between which and the healds there is relative circular motion about the loom axis for urging all the healds into a shedding movement in a radial direction progressively round the loom, and means co-operating with said urging means for restraining healds in selected banks against such shedding movement so that the warp threads whose healds are free are deflected progressively round the loom while the warp threads whose healds are restrained remain undeflected.

FRANK CORBYN HALE.

WILLIAM HOWARTH.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,087,320. July 20, 1957.

FRANK CORBYN HALE, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5,

second column, line 6, claim 11, for the word "for" read and; that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 51st day August, A. D. 1957.

Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Patents, 

